Church of the Immaculate Conception painted by RD Riccoboni, Old Town San Diego California. building started in 1867 and finished and dedicated in 1917. The Church has been in continuous operation since that time and the ties to the Founding Fathers remain strong. In fact, two of the original bells of the San Diego Mission still summon the faithful to worship: one in the Mission San Diego de Alcala in Mission Valley, the other one, here in the bell tower of Immaculate Conception Church in Old Town. Pope Gregory XVI bestowed a great honor on San Diego, as Old Town was originally called, when he made it the seat of the first Bishop of California. In December 1841, the Right Reverend Francisco Garcia Diego, O. F. M., arrived with his retinue and was assigned apartments in the home of Juan Bandini, now known as Casa Bandini - Cosmopolitan hotel which can be seen in my painting titled Calhoun Street. Nearby is Old Adobe Chapel was reconstructed in the 1930's, after the original structure was razed. The Adobe Chapel was the first parochial church in the first parish of California after the secularization of the missions in 1832. The Old Adobe Chapel was the setting for the fictional wedding of Ramona in Jackson's novel. In 1849, a small parish chapel was built and named Immaculate Conception. Now known as the Old Adobe Chapel, this preserved structure can be visited on Conde Street in Old Town. Construction on the present day church began in 1868. Souvenir art of California. Visit the artist's studio #18 in Spanish Village Art Center at Balboa Park in San Diego California.